Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter 17:A Heart for the Simple Things

Inaara stood in her room, surrounded by open suitcases, carefully folding clothes and tucking them neatly into place.

She was headed to the Northeast, a part of India she'd always wanted to visit, but the thought of traveling with Atharv brought a pang of unease.

Her excitement for the scenic beauty of Arunachal Pradesh was dimmed by the reality of spending days in the company of the cold and distant Atharv Rajvansh.

But what choice did she have?
-----

The next morning, they boarded Atharv's private jet.

Once the plane was airborne, Atharv settled in with his iPad, quickly losing himself in work, while Inaara struggled to stay awake.

The gentle hum of the jet lulled her, and before long, she drifted off, resting her head against the plush seat.

Atharv glanced over, noticing her asleep once again, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

How does she manage to sleep everywhere? he thought before turning back to his work.

Two hours later, Atharv leaned over, gently shaking her shoulder.
Inaara stirred, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Are we landing?" she asked, her eyelids fluttering open. He replied with a hint of impatience, "We're about to."

As the jet touched down, they disembarked and headed toward their destination-a secluded cottage nestled in the valleys of Arunachal Pradesh.

The drive would take another three hours. Atharv sat beside her, silent, his focus elsewhere, while Inaara found herself fighting drowsiness again.

Despite herself, she dozed off within minutes, unaware of Atharv's faint smirk as he noticed her drifting off once more.

Nearly two hours into the drive, Inaara woke up, blinking at the sunlight filtering through the car window.

She glanced over at David, Atharv's head of security, who sat up front. "David, how much longer?" she asked.

"Around an hour more, madam," David replied with a polite smile.

Inaara stretched, deciding to make the most of the rest of the journey. She gazed out the window, captivated by the landscape unfolding before her.

The rugged beauty of Arunachal Pradesh was more breathtaking than she'd imagined-lush green valleys, misty mountains, and the glimmer of rivers winding their way through the land.

They arrived at the cottage in the early afternoon, a cozy, secluded retreat tucked into the mountains.
----

The tension between the couple was palpable. They hardly spoke, sharing a stilted lunch. The silence was filled with the clatter of cutlery.

But there was nothing soft between them. Atharv's face was set in a stoic mask, while Inaara focused on her plate, her heart racing with unease.

After a quiet lunch, Atharv and Inaara headed to their room to settle in. The room was like something out of a dream, especially for Inaara.